Stationary chemical-mixing fire-extotgtjisher system



I J. W. ENRIGHT. STATIONARY CHEMICAL MIXING FIRE EIXTINGUISHERQSYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I7. 1918.

Patented July 22, 1919.

. ll/V1114 200 @427 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

JOHN W. ZEN RIGHT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

-STATI01\TATB.Y CHEMICAL-MIXING FIRE-EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed January 17,1918. Serial No. 212,304.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN W. ENRIGHT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Orleans, parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stationary Chemical-Mixing Fire-Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stationary chem ical mixing fire extinguisher systems of the wet-pipe type.

The principal objects of the invention ar to provide a fire extinguisher system of the type stated which shall be devoid of moving mechanical parts and hence shall not be affected by corrosion or deposit, whose opera tion shall be certain, rapid and reliable, and which shall be exceedingly simple in its structural details.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain features of structure, combination and relation which shall be set forth as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein the figure is a sectional view of a fire extinguisher system in which the features of the invention are incorporated.

The system includes the usual tank 1' which contains a supply of alkaline solu tion'and is preferably located in the basement or lower floor of the building to be protected. The alkaline solution is d1scharged through a riser 2 which extends through all the floors of the building and at its upper end is connected to a reservolr 3 for a supply of extinguisher liquid, preferably of a non-freezing variety. The reser voir 3 is provided at the upper end of a stand pipe 4 from which extend the usual leaders or laterals 5, these being equipped with suitably located sprinkler heads 6 or other distributing valves of approved form.

The stand pipe 41 communicates at its lower end with a vessel 7 which contains a sup ly of mercury 8.

Tlie acid for admixture with the solution in the tank 1 is contained in a receptacle 9 located externally of said tank and at such an elevation as to develop a head of acid capable of overcoming the seal provided by the mercury 8 during the operation of the system under fire emergency conditions, and having a pipe 10 extending from its base to the vessel 7 and projecting into the body of mercury 8 in said vessel. The receptacle 9 is closed to the atmosphere but is provided at its upper end with a suitable check valve 11 which serves to prevent the formation of a vacuum in said receptacle in connection with the discharge of the acid therefrom and such as would impede the acid discharge. The pipe 10 communicates at a suitable elevation with a pipe 12 which leads to the upper end of an acid reservoir 13. The reservoir 13 is connected by a pipe 14 to the tank 1, the said pipe 14. having arranged therein a mercury seal 15 and a catch basin 16 in which the mercury carried over by the acid from the seal 15 will be trapped.

In order that the high pressure developed in the tank 1 may be passed to the reservoir 13 so as to equalize the pressures acting against the acid in said reservoir, said tank is connected to the upper end of said reservoir by an elastic fluid conducting pipe 17; and in order that the fluid under pressure which flows through the pipe 17 may be confined to the reservoir 13'the pipe 12 is provided with a suitable check valve 18 which closes against back pressure. In charging the systerm the tank 1 is filled with solution and the vessel 7 and seal 15 are filled with mercury. Thereupon fire extinguisher liquid is introduced into the reservoir 3 and stand pipe 1, the weight of which acting on the mercury 8 forces a column of mercury up the pipe 10 to a point some distance above the point of communication of said pipe 10 with the pipe 12. The receptacle 9 is then filled with acid and sealed and the system is ready for operation, it being noted that the column of mercury in the pipe 10 will have suflicient resisting power to overcome the head of the superimposed column of acid.

When a sprinkler head or distributing valve is opened under fire emergency conditions the contents of the lateral in which the said sprinkler head or distributing valve is located will be discharged. a vacuum in the reservoir 3 being prevented by a check valve 19 with which said reservoir is provided and which normally excludes air therefrom; and thus the weight of the column of liquid .in the stand pipe 4 and reservoir 3 which acts on the mercury 8 will be reduced. There'- upon the column of mercury inthe pipe 10 will fall below the area of communication between the pipes 10 and 12 and the acid in the receptacle 9 will have free access to the pipe 1.2 which it is conducted to the res ervoir 18. The liquid seal 15 prevents the flow of acid to the tank 1 until substantially the whole acid supply has accumulated in the reservoir 13 at which time the weight of the acid will overcome the mercury of the seal 15 and the acid will flow through the pipe 1 1 into the tank 1, the displaced mercury being trapped in the basin 16. The developed high pressure in the tank 1, of course, forces the liquid contents of said tank through'the riser 2 and into the distributing system from which it has egress through the opened sprinkler head or distributing valve.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

In a stationary chemical mixing fire extinguisher system, a tank for an alkaline solution, a riser extending therefrom, a stand pipe communicating with the upper end of 20 said riser and supplying the outlets of the system, said stand pipe being normally charged with fire extinguisher liquid, an elevated acid receptacle located externally of said tank, means of communication between said acid receptacle and said tank, and a vessel containing mercury which is normally subject to the Weight of the column of liquid in said stand pipe and thereby functions as a trap to close the outlet of said receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK SGI-IAEFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

